Flash-light apparatus.



No. 733,300. A PATENTED JULY 7, 1903.

L. SUSANKA.

FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION rum) MAR. 16, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented my '7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEOPOLD SUSANKA, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUN GARY.

FLASH-LIGHT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,300, dated July 7,1903.

Application filed March 16, 1903. Serial No. 148,123. (Nomodeh) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEoPoLD SUSANKA, a subject of the'Emperor ofAustriaHungary, residing in Vienna, in the Province of Lower Austria, inthe Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Flash-Light Apparatus; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to a readily-transportable device for catching orcollecting the vapors generated during flash-light photographicexposures in order that such vapors may not be able to exert anyprejudicial effect during the exposure, thereby rendering it possible totake instantaneous pictures of the desired softness and gradation oftone by means of the flash-light. This device consists of a box or frameprovided with a hinged bottom and cover, the frame being connected withthe cover by means of a bellows-like bag, while the bottom, which isconnected with the frame by means of springs, carries a receptacle for asubstance adapted to produce the flash-light and is held open by adevice adapred to automatically release it when the light has beenproduced, so that the bottom will close, the vaporous products ofcombustion being inclosed in the extended bag above the burning place.

A constructional form of the device, which forms the subject of thisinvention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichi Figure1 shows the device in vertical section in the position for producing theflashlight. Fig. 2 represents it after the bottom has closed, and Fig. 3shows the device folded for transport.

Upon one of the longitudinal sides of the frame a the cover 5 and bottom0 are hinged. The cover is providedupou its outer side with sockets d,by means of which the device may be fixed upon a stand or support 2. Thebellows-like bag f, serving for collecting the vaporous products ofcombustion, is attachedto the inner edges of the frame and of the coverin such a manner that when stayrods 9 or a rod bent into U shape in lieuthereof, rotatably mounted upon pins fixed in the sides of the frame,(or rods rotatable upon pins,) has been erected a collecting hood orchamber is formed. Springs h, attached, on the one hand, to the frame aand, on the other hand, to the bottom 0, exert a tractive effort uponthis latter when open and tend to close it. In order toincrease theaction of the light, both the cover and the bottom of the case areprovided with a reflecting inner side, and a recessiis formedin thebottom for the reception of the magnesium powder or the like, whichproduces the flash-light. The bottomis held in the open verticalposition by means of a thread 75, attached to its inner side, passingover the receptacle for the powder or the like and attached to the stand6, Fig. 1. As soon as the mixture is ignited the threadk is consumed,and under the influence of the springs h the bottom flies up and isretained in the closed position by the spring-catch Z, Fig. 2. Thechamberabove the recess 2', into which the combustion-vapors ascend, isthus closed below, and these vapors are therefore retained in the bag.For purposes of transport'the bow-shaped part g or its equivalent is'turned down and the device folded together, as shown in Fig. 3, thedifierent parts of the box being held together by means of any suitableclosing device.

I claim 1. A flash-light apparatus comprising an open-ended receptacle,a collapsible smokecollector secured thereto, a support to hold thecollector distended above the receptacle and a support to hold theflash-powder below the receptacle, said supports hinged to andconstituting the heads of the receptacle, for the purposes set forth.

2. A flash-light apparatus, comprising a receptacle,a collapsiblesmoke-collector secured thereto, a support therefor, a stay coactingwith the support to hold the collector distended above the receptacle, asupport to hold the flash-powder below the receptacle, said supportshinged to and constituting the heads of the receptacle and saidcollector and stay adapted to fold into said receptacle, for the purposeset forth.

3. A flash-light apparatus, comprising a receptacle, heads thereforhinged thereto, a collapsible smoke-collector secured to the upper headand to the receptacle, the lower head provided with means for holdingthe flashpowder, and means automatically closing said lower head; incombination with holding devices to hold both heads open, the holdingdevice for the lower head adapted to be released when the flash-powderis ignited, for the purpose set forth.

4. A flash-light apparatus comprising a receptacle, heads thereforhinged thereto, a collapsible smoke-collector secured to the upper headand receptacle to fold into the latter, the lower head provided withmeans for holding the flash-powder, means automatically closing saidlower head and pivoted stays to hold the smoke-collector distended andarranged to be turned down into the receptacle; in combination withmeans to hold both heads open, the means to hold the lower head openadapted to be released by the ignition of the flash-powder, for thepurpose set forth.

5. A flash-light apparatus, comprising ai'eceptacle, heads thereforhinged to one side thereof, a collapsible smoke-collector secured to thereceptacle and to the under face of the upper head, the latter providedwith means on its outer face for connecting it to an upright support,the lower head provided with means for holding the flash-powder, a staycoacting with the upper head to hold the collector distended, and aspring acting on the lower head to close the same; in combination with acord attachable t0 the lower head and upright over the flash-powder tohold the said LEOPOLD SUSANKA.

Witnesses:

JOSEF RUBRESCH, ALVESTO S. HOGUE.

